Single dose cavity dispenser



March 10, 1953 w. c. MENDE SINGLE: nosa cAvITY DISPENSER Filed Feb. 24. 1948 INVENTOR. Maa/v .Mws. B" ffy/2@ r ATMP/vnf Patented Mar. 10, 1953 -5 SINGLE nosEfcAvI'rY DISPENSER William C. Mende, Rochelle Park, N. J., assignor to Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a. corporation of New Jersey Application February 24, 1 948, Serial No. 10,345

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 238) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers for pharmaceutical formulations in the nature of solid tablets, liquids, semiliquids, and jellies, and particularly relates to dispensers adapted to the application 'of said pharmaceutical formulations into the vagina.

Heretofore it has been the practice to introduce viscous liquid or jelly-like pharmaceutical formulations, which are used for the treatment of vaginal infections or for contraception, into the vagina by means of a dispenser which has been filled with a pharmaceutical formulation from a collapsible tube; it has been customary to use the same dispenser repeatedly.

Dispensers commonly used are about five and one-half inches long since the depth of a human vagina is five inches and at least one-half inch of the dispenser must protrude in order to provide a convenient purchase. The plunger is also five and one-half inches long and so when the dispenser is fully extended it has a length of about eleven inches; the use of such a dispenser is cumbersome and inconvenient.

The practice of the prior art entails several disadvantages; the re-use of a mechanical dispenser, in instances where a vaginal infection is being treated, subjects the patient to the possibility of reinfection provided the dispenser is not adequately sterilized after each use. The combination of the dispenser and a collapsible tube containing the pharmaceutical composition to be introduced into a body cavity is bulky and not readily ydisposable when no longer to be used.

An object of this invention is yto 'provide a v'dispenser by means of which a liquid, semiliquid,

or jellyflike pharmaceutical composition may be neatly, quickly, and conveniently dispensed into a body cavity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispenser of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily manufactured in large quantities and which may be discarded e-conomically or disposed of after use.

Another and further object of this invention .is to provide a dispenser which in addition to providing means for applying pharmaceutical compositions also serves to provide a holder or container for the pharmaceutical composition prior to its being dispensed into a body cavity.

A still further object of this invention is to pro- -vide a dispenser of the class described which is adapted to contain an amount of a pharmaceuti- V cal composition suitable for one application or 2 vide a dispenser of the class described adapted to maintain its contents in a sterile condition up to the time of use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser of the claiss described which may be readily prepared of inexpensive material and which is so constructed that the pharmaceutical composition contained therein may readily and conveniently be projected from one end of the dispenser into a body cavity without exposing the said pharmaceutical composition to contamination.

An important object of this invention is to provide a dispenser which is not bulky and is convenient to carry and use.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings as well as in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings a structure has been disclosed which is designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to-be understood that the invention is not conned to the exact features in the drawings but that, various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a form of the dispenser showing a telescoping and more compact tube.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on line II--Il of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a Afragmental cross-section on an en'- larged scale showing the locking relation between the piston rod and the telescoping piston rod extension.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation partly broken away and in cross-section showing the piston rod extension fully extended and in threaded engagement with the piston rod.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation partly broken away and in cross-section showing the outer sleeve or barrel disengaged from a lower lock on the inner tube and in engagement with an upper lock on the said inner tube.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation partly broken away and in cross-section showing the piston rod in threaded relation with the telescoping extension, both being fully extended, and the dispenser ready for use.

Fig. 7 is a View in elevation partly broken away and in cross-section showing a modified form of a telescoping dispenser having a hinged piston rod. f

Fig. 8 is a fragmental view on an enlarged scale of the hinged portion of a piston rod using a ball and socket arrangement with locking tabsf Y- Fig. 9 is a top plan section on an enlarged scale taken on the line l8-I8 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental View of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows IS-IS showing the position of the jointed parts with the piston rod aligned.

It is essential when the dispenser is to be used for inserting-.a contraceptive for pharmaceutical formulationdnto a position adjacent to the cervix that the barrel or cylinder be approximately 5% inches in length. A barrel or cylinder of this length will reach to a position adjacent to the cervix and extend beyond the entrance -of the vagina at the other endsuiciently toallow a convenient purchase. Figs. `1;.6 are illustrative of a dispenser in the form of a telescoping device which can be extended `to a length .of at least 5% inches. This embodiment ofthe invention has the advantage of compactness.

The device 40 as shown in Figs. l and 2 has an -inner .barrel vill -and yan .outer barrel .42 of such..a=size.as.tot snuglyoverthe inner barrel. Outer barrel 42 preferably has knurling 43 on-its upperendto enable it to-bemorenrmly grasped byrtherngersfat thisfpoint. A.stopper 52, which may -be a ,plug or Vcap made of cork, rubber, plastic, paper, or wood, in the llower end 50 of .inner barrel 43.keeps thecontents 1.8 ofthe inner Abarrelin position ,in ythe inner barrel .until thecontentsareto Vbe dispensed, at which time the ,stopper vris yremoved. Inner barrel ,43 has female locking members 46 onits lower end for engagement with male locking .members i4-on .theinside-of the lower -end .ofouter telescoping barrel 42, and asthe .dispenseris carried and before it `is.used, thetwo barrels are telescoped .and `locked by means ,of the male and female members on the lower ends .of the telescoping barrels. Thereisa slight clearance 49 .between the inner `and .outer -.telescoping barrels. vInner 4barrelAS has.a femalelockingmember 5t at the xupper end .thereof, which .locking member yis adapted to .become engaged with male locking members 44 .on V.the inside of v,the telescoping barrel when said telescopingbarrel is extended. Upper end 54 of inner barrel `43.is.partially closed but .hagan aperture .58 vwhich .isof ,such a size that telescoping .extension of .piston rod .t0 fits snugly therein.

A piston which is positioned insideof inner barrel48-.through the` aperture of closed upper .end.54..of .inner ,barrel 48.iscomprised of a piston .rod .10 which may lb.e.fabricated.of felt, plastic, cork, paper, Wood, pulp, or any suitable substance whioh. is ,inert to `the pharmaceutical com- .position .contained `in lthe .dispenser and having .a vlower .barbed or -mutilated ,end 114, upper threaded, or otherwise engaging, portion 1.2and .atelescopng extension Si! whichrlts snugly over .piston frod .lll andlis adapted .to be easily and .smoothly extended .until itsinternally threaded, orlotherwise,engaging,`lower end E4 engages with the upper threaded portion 7.2 ofpiston rod'. Fig. 4 .shows .the .piston `extended to a position .such Athat `theinternally Athreaded lower end 64 of .the .telescoping extension 6B has engaged with .theupper threaded portionl of `piston `rod lil. The telescoping extension 50 of piston rod 7i) has .aknurled button.62 .on .its upper end.

The enlargedfragmental cross-section of Fig. L3 .shows v.in detail the .engaging relation between piston rod 'I0 and telescoping piston rod exten.- :sion 60.

. The Y. procedure for .using ,the device illustrated in Figs. c1 to i6 to .dispense the ,pharmaceutical '4 formulation 13 comprises grasping outer barrel 42, exerting a pulling force on knurled button 62 which before use is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. By exerting said pulling force on the knurled button, the rst action is to move the telescoping extension 6i) along piston rod 10 until its internally threaded lower end 64 becomes f engaged Vwith vthe upper threaded portion vi2 :of vpistonrod lil. .This position is illustrated by Fig. 4. The second operation com- ;prises grasping the lower end of inner barrel 48 with one hand and grasping the knurling or inger grip 543onf outer telescoping barrel 42 with .the vother hand and exerting a pulling force whereby `the vmale ilocking members 44 on the inner .surface oftelescoping barrel 42 become disengaged vfrom the female locking members 46 on'theexterior-of vthe lower end of inner barrel 48. The .outer telescoping barrel readily slides along the surface of the inner barrel until the said malelocking members become. engaged with the upperfemale'locking members on theiexteriorpf inner barrel '48. `Fig..5 illustratesthe dispenser after thepiston rodhas been extended its full length vand afterthe ,telescopingbarrels have been extended to'their full length andhave becomeengaged.

The third operation'to be performed in the use .of the dispenser comprises grasping inner barrel 48and exerting a pulling force on knurled button 62 wherebythe piston rod is extended to apposition wherein its lower barbed or'mutilated end '14 is partially drawn through 'a holeinpiston "16. Fig. 6 illustrates the dispenser `at the end of this operation. To Aexpel pharmaceutical formulation 'i8 into a body cavity, such as the vagina, the stopper'52 is removed and the tubular portion of the dispenser is inserted intothe vagina toa suitable distance and to a distance such that the knurling or `finger grip 43+extends beyond the entrance of the vagina. Finger grip 43 is held in one'hand, 'and pressure is exerted on knurled button Vt2 whereby pistonl is .forcedto thelower en'd of inner Lbarrel "48, thus expelling the .pharmaceutical formulation.

A modification of the pistonirod system-is illustratedby Figs. '7.to 10. vIn thismodicationthe telescoping `extension of the piston rod is replaced by a hinged non-telescoping -piston rod. .This modication is illustrated in Fig. 7 Where a.lower portion Sil `of the piston rod corresponds .to piston rod of Fig. 2'and`has'ajprotuberant portion 82 which acts 'as a seal Vbut which can readily be drawn through aperture "84 in lthe .closed upper end "54 .of inner barrel A48. "Phe protuberant Aportion extends 'beyond the inner barrel, and there is attached to it alink 404 by a pivot pin 86. The link Yis attached toan Aupper Yportion .9@ of the hinged piston rod by a pivotpin 33. The upper portion 9D Iof'the .hinged piston rod Vhas a knurled button 92|'on the end for convenient grasping. vIn lorder to dispense the pharmaceutical composition '-18 the .upper portion .90 of `the hinged vpiston lrod is brought into .direct alignment with lower portion of the piston rod. By this action proituberances 96 .on link H34 are brought into -cooperative relationship with dimples -98 on the upperportion 9D of the hinged piston rod and protuberant .portion 82 yon the lower portion -80 ,of thepistonrod. By this locking mechanism the piston Yrod .is maintained in Ystraight alignment .and the operation of the ldispenser;is the same as that 'for the rst modication Whichwas described above.

A ball and socket locking mechanism can be used in place of the locking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 in which protuberances on link |04 cooperate with dimples 98 on the upper and lower portions of the hinged piston rod. Such a mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and in which 80 designates the lower portion of the piston rod and 90 the upper portion of the hinged piston rod and |04 the link. In this locking mechanism the link |04 has ball ends |02 which fit into ball sockets |00 on lower portion 80' of the piston rod and upper portion 90 of the hinged piston rod. Ball sockets |00 have side ears |09 which are slightly bent together so that they provide notches |08, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, to retain ball ends |02 and which also receive link |04' in its vertical position. Side ears |06 have cam edges I |0 which are conveniently sprung apart to receive link |04' when brought into a vertical position and into direct alignment with lower portion 80 of the piston rod. Upper portion 90 of the piston rod is locked in the same manner to link |04 when brought into direct alignment with said link.

Fig. 9 illustrates the positional relationship of the parts when link |04 is in right angular relationship with the upper or lower portions of the piston rod.

Fig. 10 illustrates the positional relationship of the members when the link is in direct alignment with lower portion 80 or upper portion 90' of the piston rod.

A feature of the invention resides in the simple and inexpensive nature of the cavity dispenser, whereby it may be economically discarded or disposed of after use. It is, therefore, preferably constructed of paper, paper board, cardboard, or

, a synthetic material such as polyvinyl alcohol which readily lends itself to the formation of sheets, films, and tubes or of other plastics which may be formed into tubes by extrusion. The use of a synthetic material such as polyvinyl alcohol has the added advantage that it softens and swells upon short contact with water due to its water-absorbing properties, thus making it more readily disposable than paper or cardboard, since it may be discarded into a toilet hopper without clogging said hopper. Other water-absorbing synthetic materials may be substituted for polyvinyl alcohol. Paper or paper board, lined with a water-resistant lm such as cellulose acetate butyrate, polyethylene, and the like, have also been found satisfactory for use in fabricating the tubes of the dispenser.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principal objects of the invention have been accomplished and that numerous and varous changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments of the invention herein described and that the invention is capable of use and has advantages not specifically described herein; it will therefore be appreciated that the herein-made disclosures are to be construed in the nature of illustration only and that the invention is to be limited or delineated only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable container and applicator device adapted to contain and inject pharmaceutical formulations contained therein into body cavities, said device comprising telescoping inner and outer elongated tubes having suicient rigidity to maintain their shape, and cooperating locking means which act to hold the tubes i-lrmly in position when the said tubes are in an extended position; said inner tube having a movable, internally disposed piston with a centrally located hole; a telescoping piston rod positioned inside the telescoping tubes, through the hole of the piston and reaching the length of and beyond one end of the extended telescoping tubes to aiord convenient purchase, said piston rod comprising a rod and a tube adapted to fit snugly over the rod and having engaging means on the end of the rod part thereof which is positioned inside the telescoping inner tube adapted to firmly engage the piston.

2. A device according to claim l which is composed of polyvinyl alcohol.

WILLIAM C. MENDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Page 1056, volume II, of Ellis, The Chemistry of Synthetic Resins, published 1935 by Reinhold Publishing Co., 330 E 42nd St., New York city A copy is available in Division 58 of the United States Patent Oice. 

